Hymne du Gers wins the Grand National du Trot

Leg 9 of the Grand national du Trot harness racing series took place this day at Le Mans with 16 horses ages 5-10 racing 2950 meters voltstart distance handicap for the Gr. III 90,000€ total purse.

In a stirring stretch long battle of giant performance drivers, veteran Jean Michel Bazire won at 3.2/1 odds with his trainee Hymne du Gers (7g Bold Eagle-Unanime Quality-Offshore Dream) timed in 1.13.3kr over 2975 meters with his 25 meter penalty included.

J.M. Rancoule owns the now 14 time winner in 36 starts for 401,310€. The 2.5/1 odds favorite Iguski Sautonne (6m Village Mystic-Sarc Sautonne-Juliano Star) was a very game front stepping second for Matthieu Abrivard the driver/trainer/owner.

He faced no handicap. Eureka Vrie (10g First de Retz-Intrigue de Vrie-Passionnant) was third at 12/1 with Eric Raffin aboard for trainer Thomas Chalon also the owner of this Roger Baudron bred 25 meter handicapped trotteur.

I Can Dream (6f Ubriaco-North America-And Arifant) was fourth at 47/1 for Alexandre Abrivard, trainer/owner L.C. Abrivard with this one bred by Louis Baudron. Hidalgo des Noes at 15/1 and 7.4/1 Hede Darling completed the top six with all handicapped 25 meters except the aforementioned second place finisher.

Saturday at Paris-Vincennes will have featured the final Criterium races for ages 3, 4, and 5 year old trotteurs. The purse for each Criterium is 300,000€.

Yesterday at Paris-Vincennes some youngsters were on stage. In the Prix Erato (purse 33,000€,  \2200 meters, eight starters all two year olds) the 22/1 Mister du Choquel (2m Gotland-Coranie des Noes-Prince d’Espace) rallied to win in 1.15.7kr. Francois Lagadeuc handled this Nicolas Bridault trainee for Bruno Bridault.

The quick little fella scored for the second time in three starts. The 6/10 favorite Manaslo (2m Love You-Caranca-Ready Cash) was second with Yoann Lebourgeois up for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire.

This Jean Francois Guay bred colt is from the dam of Hohneck. Third was 4/1 Macareux du Trieux (2m Carat Williams) that closed well for Eric Raffin.

Trotteur Francais, Paris-Vincennes, Le Mans Hippodrome files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink